Protected tank entrance



Aug. 19, 1930. c. F. BERTSCHINGER I Y PROTECTED TANK ENTRANCE' A 5Sheets-Sheet l l Filed Dec. l5, 1927 A TT lfm/E y Aug.ll9, 1930. v C. F.BERTscHlNGER 1,773,295

PROTECTED TANK ENTRANCE Filled Deo. l5. 192'? 3 Sheecs--Sheel'I 2 Aug.19, 1930. c. FQ BERT'SCHINGER v v Y 1,773,295

v Y PRQTECTED TANK ENTRANCE Y Filed Deo. 15, 1927 3 SheetS--Sheet 3 9Iummllllh..31

1.1 V` ."7 ZTTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1930 lUNlrl-:o STATE-s PATENTOFFICE ..j

CHARLES E. BERTsoHrNGER, or JAMAICA, NEW YoRx, AssrGNoR 'ro 'rmE WATEROIL COMPANY, or BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, AcoRPoRAmroN or NEW JERSEYPROTECTED TANK Application led December'l, 1927. 'Serial No. 240,221.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved device forprotecting a tank entrance, and particularly a fill pipe of anunderground storage tank, in a manner which guards against unauthorizedfilling, while permitting the contents of the tank to be gauged throughthe entrance. The objects include simplicity and economy ofconstructio'n and installation, convenience in filling and gauging,security oranti-fraud protectlon, ease of sealing, and rotectionagainstV entrance 'of water. One o the objects of the invention is toprovide a construction which possesses special advantages for what areV1'5 known as Hush-type fill boxes, which are embedded in concrete inor'alon'gside the roadway of run-in filling stations. Other features ofthelinventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art'. v To theseends the invention comprises certain features of'construction,parts andcombinations of parts which will be described hereinafter and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part hereof:

Fi 1 is a vvertical section through the comp ete device applied to theupper end vof a fill pipe;

Fig. 2 is a similar -view with the cover removed and a gauge stickpartly inserted;

Fig. 3 is an elevation on a smaller scale,

showing the box embedded in concrete ai:l

the ground level, and a portion of an underground tank, the pipe beingbroken out a5 for most of its length; l

Fig. 4 is a `vertical section on the line 4-4 -ofF1g.1; L Y

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 2, with the gauge stick in section. andportions in the 4o interior of the box broken away and in section; v

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the togof the ball container;

4 ig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 7--7 of F1g.4; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views parts of the locking means. Fig. 3illustrates aportion of a large uni Ydr'tgerounditank 2, whichmay'beunderstood to thestorage tank ofa gasoline llng station/ Iill and gaugeypipe extends upward from the tank through-the ground to a point nearthe surface. y

l A box or fitting 4 is screwed onto the upper end ofthe pipe andvisembedded in concrete.. 5, Hush with the surface thereof. The box has aninternall screw-threaded ytop entrance 6 into whlch a stoutscrew-threaded cover 7- is screwed Hush withr the top of the box, thelatter having a lateral flange 8 with a rim 9, vand the cover having alateral flange 10 which lies within the rim. A gasket 110 is placed onthe flange 8 beneath the flange 10 to form a tightl Joint when the boxis closed.

The box affords a comparativel wide Y chamber 11 beneath the cover, thisc amber having a lower portion 12 of somewhat smaller diameter, andilthere being an upwardly facing shoulderilo between this recess 12 andthe internally screw-threaded bore 14 of the box which engages the screwthread on the pipe. Under the entrance 6 there is an overhang 15, at thetop of the chamber 11.

This is a standard form of box, and it is* one of the advantl ges oftheinvention that it is adapted for incorporation in 'and combination withexisting boxes, but it will be understood that the'invention is notlimited to this, and that the box,` fitting or enclosure employed may beof special construction, or

of different construction :from that lillus,- trated. 4.A'hollow ballcontainer 16 is drop ed loosely into1 the lower part of .the cham r ofthe box, which it ap roximately fits. This container has a top ange orlexternal enlargement 17 which rests on the shoulder 13, and theremainder of the container may extend downward within the 'upper end ofthe pipe 3 when the-box is applied thereto. A

gasket 18 is interposed between the shoulder 13 and flange 17. Thisshoulder is, therefore, utilized not only to su port the ballcontainerbut for the obtaining of a liquid tight joint at `this region, toprevent any water for gasoline which may enter or be introduced into thebox passing around the ball container ,andv entering the tank throughthe pipe. y' The ball container 16 is in the form of a small box havingpermanent walls, and its interior constitutes a ball chamber 19containingasolidmetalball 20 smaller than the width of the chamber.Openings 21 and 22 are providedin the u per and lower walls 23 and 24 ofthe ball chamber, these openings being approximately in line one abovethe other, though somewhat offset with res ct to each other, and beingeccentrically sposed, to'- ward one side of the chamber, as 1n mycopending application Serial No. 215,552 filed August 26, 1927. The edge25 of the ower opening forms a valve seat for the ball, which normallyrests partlywithin this opening so as to prevent liquid from enteringthe and tank by way cfr-the interior of the all container.

The chamber 19 is large enough to accommodate the ball 20 when thelatter is pushed out of and aside from the 'opening 22 sufficiently topermit the introduction of a gauge stick 26, the lower end of the latterbeing tapered to a (point at one side, at 26', for disodgin an cammingaside the ball.

The tbottom of the chamber 19 is suiiiciently sloped so that the ballautomatically returns into thelopening 22 when the auge stick iswithdrawn. Or the result can e accomplished in substantially the sameway by properly proportioning the ballin relation to the width of thespace i'n the chamber 19 at one side of the hole, so that, with thestick in place the side wall of the chamber prevents the ball from beingpushed aside from a position in which its center of gravity is over theedge of the hole.

The openings 21 and 22, with the interior part 16, formpart of a throughway 'for the passa e of avgauge member through the pipe 1nto t le tank;and as in my said application the upper opening 21 is made of o d shapeand restricted effective area, so as to make it practically impossibleto fill into the tank fraudulently by insertinga nozzle in the opening,even assuming that the ball could be displaced by such a nozzle or insome other Way, which wouldbe difficult. Any liquid introduced into thechamber 11 above the part 16 is retained there, being prevented bytheball from passing through the interior of the art 19,'and by the liuidtightjoint at 18 m passing around t epart. Even if the ball 20 didnot seat liquidA tight in the open'- ing 22 it would not permit thepassage of glasoline in'anysuch quantities as 'to make adulent fillingprofitable; but to exclude water, which if present even in small amountin the gasoline isv very detrimental as well as to prevent radulentpractices, it 1s highly important to provide liquid-tight joints orclosuresagainst passage of liquid through as well as around the part 16.Water may enter the box when the cover 7 is oi or if the cover is notscrewed tight, or if the joint at 110 should become leaky.

I find that a very advantageous shape for the small upper opening 21,and for the corresponding cross-section of the stick 26 is that of abroad isosceles triangle, with insets on the sides. These insets forminternal projections 27 on the sides of the openin 21 and grooves 28 inthe sides of the stick. is construction aiords ample strength in thestick, with a suiciently wide reading face 29 to receive the graduationsand gallon numbers, and affords very adequate security against theintroduction of a nozzle.

lThe top wall 23 of the ball container may be made of a separate piecefrom the body of the container as shown, but it is to be under stood asbeing secured permanently or semipermanently, so that the ball can notbe lost and can not be taken out, except possibly as a matter of repair.Y i f The part 16 constitutes an embodiment of a removable illingobstructor and gau receiver. In res ect to the ball and ball c amber,the revisions for the passage of the gauge stic the nature of the stickand other matters and combinations involved there-- with, the inventionpresents an improvement upon and within my copending applications SerialNo. 111,942, filed May 27, 1926 and Serial No. 215,552, led Aug. 26,1927. As in those applications 'means are provided "for locking orsecuring this art against unauthorized removal, preferab y by means of aseal which must be broken or destro ed before the part can be removed,so that visible indication is afforded if the tank entrance has beentampered with. The representative of the .oil company, authorized to llthe tank, is provided with seals and a suitable tool for re-sealing thetank after he has filled it.

One part of the present invention relates to an improved constructionand disposition of locking means suitedv for thety e of lill boxindicated. .It is more specifica l a locking means which is secured by aseal, gut I do not necessarilylimit myself to a seal lock as to allaspects of the invention. Nor as to the particular locking or sealingfeatures do I necessarily limitmyselfto a ball containing device as thefilling obstructor and gauge receiver. In some cases the ball might beomitted and reliance placed upon the auge opening through the part beinsuiclently restricted or otherwise sulicienty obstructed to preventunauthorized filling, or to dis-- courage it by reason of the extremeslowness of the operation. Manifestly, however, it is los much better toactuall close a gauge opening in the obstructor by. t e ball, or possily by some other automatlc means. Another possibility is that the gaugemember could be kept in the tank and'pl andibe prevented from removalfrom the 'ng obstructor, the openlng throu h the obstructor beingsubstantia ly' fille by the gauge member, as inmy Patent No. 1,604,874,dated-October 26, 1926.

indicate that the part has been removed, in-

cludes a removable cross-bar 31 which is disposed over the part 16 inthe chamber 11 of the box 4;,- ythe ends of this cross-bar engaging thebox.

beneath the overhang 15 in the upper part of A screw 32 passes downwardthrough a screwthreaded hole in the intermediate portion of thecross-bar and engages a socket or cup 33 on. or in the top 23 of thevpart 16, the kerfed head ofthe s crew being accommodated in acountersunk recess 34 in Vthe bar. The screw is screwed down throughtaken out through the entrance 6. The

the cross-bar against the part 16 and by reaction jams the ends ofthe'cross-bar against the under surface of the'overhang. This holds thepart 16 firmly in place, and the -interengagement of the screw with thesocket 33 makes 1t impossible to pry the bar loose or to get it into aposit-ion where it might be socket -33 is preferably eccentricallydisposed,

` and the bar when in position is consequently at one side of the centerof the entrance 6. The bar is of such length that it can be taken :out-when the screw is Vscrewed upward v3o through the bar suiiieiently -todisengage the socket 33. The lockingmeans when in place does notinterfere in anyway with the inser- 'I tion ofthe gauge stick.

Means are provided'for'- preventing unintendedfrelease of the screw 32,preferably by covering the head of the screw to preventaccess thereto.

For this purpose I preferably t a sleeve 35 movably on the' cross-bar,so as in-order to bring an opening 36, therein intov to cover anduncover the screwhead. For greater security I contrive that the sleevemust be-moved both lengthwise and rotatably position where it permitsthe screw to be unscrewed. An -angular slot 37 in the sleeve is withinthe portion 40 in thellocked condition.

guided on the shank ofthe screw in this operation.

The sleeve or cover member islocked by seal 38, the ribbon or wire of'which is passed through openings in laterally projecting portions 39and 40 on the bar-31 and sleeve 35,A

respectively. These portionsV are preferably so formed that the portion39 is received When these parts. are sealed together the opening 36 isout of register with the screw,

` and the head of the latter is covered by the wall of thesleeve.

In order to remove the part 16 for filling, the seal is broken, thesleeve 35, is shifted on the bar 31 to the position in which the pointthe screw and sleeve thereon, is taken out through theentrance 6, andthe part .'16 lis I taken out. f V While 4l". have utilized the overhan15 exist ing 1n a present standard form of l ll box, it

will be understood that in'a specially constructed box thisoverhang'may'be replaced yby other suitable downwardly facing surfacesor abutments, or by recesses or keeper sockets, l

bar is preferred as the means for creating downward pressure on the part16 and for holding this part in place, thev locking device might be madeof relatively movable arts `o specifically different construction `orperformin` the same functions. .if 1

Other modi cations and speciiicallydifferent embodiments of the featuresoflthe invention will suggest themselves to the skilled me-I chanic.While the invention is particularly applicable to the pipes leading tounderground tanks, 'features of the invention may e employed forguarding the entrances of tanks of other kinds or in other locations.

1. A'device of the character described, com-v prising a boxadapted to beapplied to the upper end of'a pipe extending upward from an undergroundtank, a removable ball container vinside said box, said ball containercontaining a ballchamber having openings for the passage of agaugemember, with a ball guarding thelower of said openings, and alocking device interposed between said ball container and aportion ofthe interior of the box above the container.

2. A' device of the character described, comprising a-box adapted to beapplied'to the upper end of a pipe extending upward from an undergroundtanka removable ball container inside said box', said ball containercontaining'a ball chamber having openings AtightJ joint', and ay lockingdevice interposed between said ball container and a portion Aof the boxto .prevent unauthorized removal,l

of the ball container, said llocking device constructed to react betweensaid ball vcontainer and a portion of the box so as to apply pressure tosaid joint.

' rf--vm .;4 '3. Means forguarding a tank entrance,

comprising a box' adapted to be applied to the upper end of a pipeextending upward from an underground tank, said box provided witha'closure, a removable 'filling vobstructor in the box beneath saidclosure .pro-

vidinga passageway for a gauge member into .the interior of the tank,and an interposed locking device adapted to prevent unauthorized removalof the' obstructor, said locking device including a screw, and sealedmeans preventingy access to the head of said screw'for releasing thelocking device.

4. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a removablefilling obstructor in the box providing a passageway for a gauge member,and an interposed locking device adapted to prevent unauthorized removalof the obstructor, said locking device including a screw, amovableimember for covering the head of the screw, and means for sealingsaid movable member.

5. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a removablefilling obstructor in the box providing a passageway for a gauge member,and an interposed locking device adapted to prevent unauthorized removalof the obstructor, said locking device comprising a bar, a screw in saidbar to coact with the obstructor, and sealed means covering the head ofsaid screw.

6. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a removablefilling obstructor in the box providing a passageway for a gauge member,and an interposed locking device adapted to prevent unauthorized removalofthe obstructor, said locking device comprising a bar, Ia screw in saidbar to coact with the obstructor, and a member carried by said bar andmovable relatively thereto to coverand uncover the head of said screw.

7. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a removablefilling obstructor in the box providing a passageway for a gauge member,and an interposed locking device. adapted to prevent unauthorizedremoval of the obstructor, said locking device` comprising a bar, ascrew in said bar to coact with the obstructor, a member carried by saidbar and movable relatively thereto to cover and uncover the head of saidscrew, and means for securement of said member by means of a seal.

8. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a removablefilling obstructor in the box' providing a passageway for a gaugemember, and an interposed lock.

ing device adapted to prevent unauthorized removal of the obstructor,said locking device comprising a bar, a screw in said bar to coact withthe obstructor, and a sleeve movable on said bar to cover and uncoverthe head of said screw.

9. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a removablefilling obstructor in the box providing a passageway `for a gaugemember, and an interposed locking device adapted to prevent unauthorizedremoval of the obstructor, said locking de-V vice comprising a bar, ascrew in said bar to coact with the obstructor,a'l sleeve movablelongitudinally and rotatablyon said bar and havingan opening adapted tobe brought into register with the head of the screw, and portions onsaid bar and sleeve through which to pass av sealing element. Y

10. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a" removable'filling obstructor in the box providing a passa eway for a'v gaugemember, and an interpose locking device adapted to prevent unauthorizedremoval of the obstructor, said locking device comprising a bar, a screwin said bar to coact with the obstructor, a sleeve movablelongitudinally and rotatably on said bar and having an angular slotguidedv on the lower portion of the screw and an opening adapted to bebrought into register with the head of the screw, and portions on saidbar and sleeve through which to pass a sealing element.

11. Means for guarding a tank entrance, comprising a box, a removablelling obstructor in the box providing a passageway for a gauge member,and an interposed locking device adapted to prevent unauthorized removalof the obstructor, said locking device comprising a bar, a screw insaidbar to coact with the obstructor, and a sleeve movable on said bar tocover and luncover the head of said screw, said sleeve and bar havingportions adapted to be received one inside the other and formed withopenings for the passage of a sealing element.

. 12. A device. of the character described, comprising a box adapted tobe applied to the upper end of a pipe extending upward from anunderground tank, a cover for said box, a removable ball containerinside said box, said ball container containing a ball chamber havingopenings for the passage of a gauge member, with a ball guarding lthelower of said openings, and a locking device to prevent unauthorizedremoval of said ball container from said box when said cover is removed.

13. A device of the character described, comprising a box adapted to beapplied to the upper end of a pipe extending upward from an undergroundtank, a cover for said box, a removable ball container inside said box,said ball container containing a ball chamber having openings for thepassage of a gauge member, with -a ball guarding the lower of saidopenings, and a locking device interposed between said ball containerand a portion of the interior of the box.

CHARLES F. BERTSCHINGER.

Y CERTIFICATE or coulucrloN. i s PatenrNo. 1,773,295'. 'Granted August19, 1.930,.':6'

l l i CHARLES F.v BERrscHlNGER. V

.It is hereby certified that lthe above numbered patent was erroneouslyissued to"'Tide WateLOil Company", as assignee of the entire 4,interestin-said invention, whereas said patent should have been issued totheinventor, said "Bertschinger, and

` Tide Water Oil Company", said company being assignee of three-fourthsinterest only in said invention, as shownby the records of assignmentsin this office; and that `the said Letters Patent should be read withthis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of. thecase in the Patent Office.

Signed and. sealed this 23rd dayl of September, A. D. 1930.

A M. J. Moore,l A. (Sea-l) f Acting Commissioner of Patents,

